Real memorial obituaries – Combe Down, Monkton Combe, Midford

In memoriam et celebrationem

In memorial and celebration

DEATH OF MR. W. H. CLARK.

Chairman of the Bath Rural District Council.

The news of the death of Mr. William Henry Clark, of Rutland Cottage, Combo Down, will not come as a surprise to his friends, for it was known for some time past that his life was slowly ebbing away.

At the first meeting of the present Bath Rural District Council when he was re-elected to the chair, in April last, he was not well enough to attend and he had not been able to be present at its proceedings since then.

As a young man Mr. Clark farmed extensively at Hinton Charterhouse (where he was born
at one time holding 800 acres on the Foxcroft estate, and it is notable that during the long tenancy of their land (which tenancy can be traced back in both families for over 100 years), no written agreement has ever existed; nor has any disagreement occurred.

He beat a Poor Law Guardian and District Councillor for Hinton many years ago and had been: Chairman of the latter body for about two decades. This position made him an ex- officio magistrate for the Weston Division. In all his public duties his conduct was marked by strong common sense, fairness, and strict integrity.

For eleven years he was a member of the Somerset County Council, succeeding Colonel R. H. Steward as representative of the Monkton Combe Division, He resigned at the termination of his period of office last spring. Mr J. S. Shackell, of Swainswick, taking his place.

As a County Councillor he was member of several important committees and Chairman of the Bath Small Holdings Committee, also a member of the Old-age Pensions Committee and War Pensions Committee,

For more than ten years Mrs Clark was a member of the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society, noting as steward in the dairy classes, as well as serving on committees and taking a great interest in the shows of the society. He was a great friend of the late Mr. Thomas Forder Plowman, Mr. Clark was con- sidered an expert agriculturist and his great experience of land and practical knowledge had been of great value during the last few years on Small Holdings Committee and other bodies.

He was a very punctual man, prompt and quick with decisions on important matters. A committee friend stated that he had known Mr. Clark for twenty years and had never known him late at a single meeting.

Deceased was the first Chairman of the Bath Farmers' Union, Funeral at Hinton Charterhouse.

The funeral of Mr. W. 11. took place at Hinton Charterhouse Churchyard on Thursday afternoon, Mr. Clark's death having occurred, after a long illness, on Saturday, It was deceased's desire, as it was appropriate, that his Iast resting place should be the church-yard in the parish in which he was born and in which he and his forebears farmed on the
Foxcroft estate.

Hinton is not, however, a very conveniently situated village, and any who would have liked to have paid a last tribute to an old friend were unable to do so.

Absence from home was the reason also of a number not attending the funeral. The remains of deceased
were conveyed in a muter fear from Combe Down via Midford, and the chief mourners followed in motor carriages. The hell of Hinton Church was tolled prior to the arrival of the cortege, and from abort two o'clock villagers and others began to able is the churchyard.

Members and officials of the District Council and Board of Guardians gathered at the main entrance to the churchyard and fell in behind the chief mourners as the coffin was borne info the church.

The chief mourners were Mr. Charles Clark, Miss Ada Grist, Misses Edith and Ethel Grist, H. Clark and G. Clark, Mrs. C. Clark, Mrs. Hall, Mr. F. M. Elliott, Mr. Francis Glover, and Mr. Hayes

The Rural District Council representatives included Messrs. E. II. Morgan (vice-chairman), J. Male, W. H. Padfield, H. Beater, T. Oborn, Captain Daubeny, T, P Preston, Min Lawrence, JP with the Clerk (Mr. It if Whittington and the Sanitary Surveyor (Mr. F. W. Kelway).